Computing machine



L. E.G1LES.

COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mu) JUNE 30. I920.

1,41 4,855, Patented May 2, 1922.

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LOUIS E. GILES, or NEW Yozax, N. Y., AssIGNoE To UNDER-WOOD COMPUTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEw YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEw YORK.

COMPUTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May-2, 1922.

Application filed June 30, 1920. Serial No. 392,964.

.To all whom it may concern:

algebraic computations and of indicating th' e correct results,' whether positive or negandf'is in the nature of an lmp-rovement on, my" co-pending application, Serial No.

132 filed September 4:, 1919 (.now Patent tive values, "and with figuresto'represent negative values, and the indexing device as- 321,616, the central row represents the positive values, and the other tworows represent negat ve values. When a negative value is obtained,'a positive 9 wi appear on the left-hand computing wheel, indicatcating that the resultis'negative; a shutter is then moved to the right 'tobring a star I overthe last significant digit in the positive number row, the negative result being then to the left o f'fthe-fstar', and from the negative digit above thest'ar to the right inthe upper row.

In said application of Edward Thomas, the shutter of the same eneral character as that shown in my app ication referred to above is used in connection with an Underwood-Hanson bookkeeping machine having star-printing devices connected therewith, and the detents which control the star-printing devices are utilized to automatically stop the shutter in proper position when moved to the right for the purposeof reading a. negative result.- I

7 According to the present invention, the

p 70,426, dated March 1, 1921. and the; application of Edward Thomas, erial No.' 'j.3 41', 7 49,' filed December 1, 1919. v

:1 In my prior application referred to above, the number wheels of the totaliz'er are provided with figures or digits to represent posi shutter is provided with openings such that the positivenumbers can be read when the shutter is in normal position, and provision is made of simple and efficient means for stopping the movement of the shutter when the shutter has been advanced far enough to cover'the last significant digit in the positive number'row, said stopping means comprising a member which may be moved to the left past the computing wheels showing 0 in the positive number row, but which will be blocked by the first computing wheel not set at 0 in the positive number row.

In the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, the left-hand opening of the shutter, when the latter is in normal position, exposes the positive number tow and the lower negative number row, and the shutter is provided with aright-hand opening spaced from the left a distance equalto that between two successive number wheels, and is positioned so that, as the shutter is moved to the left, the digits of the upper row of negative numbers will be exposed one by one. Each of the computing wheels is provided with a notch between the 0, corresponding to the positive numbers, and the 9, corresponding to the negative numbers, so that when the O of the positive number set on a computing wheel is in position to be read, a stud or projection extending dow nwardly from the shutter may pass through the notch in said wheel. It will be seen that if the right-hand number wheels are set at zero, the shutter. may be me to the left until the stud or projection thereon engages a number wheel having other than 'a zero setting.

Other features and advantages will here- 7 inafter appear. read from the-lower row of negative figures In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of an Underwood bookkeeping machine, showing the present invention as applied thereto. Figure 2 is a fragmentary, sectional, side view of part of the device shown in Figure 1, 1

showing the relationship of the computing wheels and the shutter. I

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the computingwheels, showing a notch extending across the periphery thereof.

Figure 4 is a developed view of the pe- I ripheryof one of the computing or'numeral wheels usedin connection with the present invention.

, Figure 5 is a view of a port-ion of i number "registeredupon the computing wheels. 4

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but showing a negative number registered upon the computing wheels.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the shutter shown in Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6, but showing a different negative number registered.

The usual Underwood bookkeeping machine includes a typewriter frame 10, a computing casing 11, typewriter keys 12, and numeral wheels 13, the latter being revolubly mounted in the casing 11, and adapted to be actuated by the typewriter numeral keys 12 through means, not shown, for adding or subtracting numbers. One form of mechanism for effecting such computation is shown in the patent to Hans Hanson, 1,278,- 812, granted September 10, 1918.

Before beginning a computation, the typist sees that all of the wheels stand at 0. The numeral keys may then be actuated to add the number 1,247,640, the carrying running in a direction opposite to the black digits, the red and black digits being arranged alternately so that each pair beginning with a 9 and an oppositely-colored zero will add up to nine.

F or the purposes of the present invention, the two series of digits are advantageously so related to each other that the two zeros stand next to each other between the red 9 and the black 9, with the result that if the black digits are paired with the red digits above instead of those below them, each pair adds to ten. This condition conduces to the ease of reading them, for purposes which will hereinafter appear.

In the form of the invention herein illustrated, the typist sees not only the black digits at the sight-opening 14, but also one row of red digits adjacent them, in this case the row below the black digits. The typist ignores the red digits ordinarily seen for ordinary work, and pays attention only to the black digits.

In the ordinary use of the machine, when the result is positive, the row of red digits immediately above the black is coveredby a wing 16 of a shutter 17 normally held in the extreme right-hand position by a spring 18 attached at one end to a fixed part of the machine and at the other to a bracket 19, extending to one side of the shutter. The shutter 17 is provided with a left-hand opening 20 of sufficient size to show the row of black figures and the lower row of red figures when the shutter is in normal position, and is provided with an opening 21 spaced to the right from opening 20 a distance equal to that between two successive computing wheels, and so positioned that when the shutter is moved to the left, figures of the upper row of red figures will be exposed. For convenience in moving the shutter, it is supplied with an upstanding finger-piece 22 which also, in connection with the ends of the sight-opening 14, serves to limit the movement of shutter 17. in both directions.

The left-hand black digit is normally zero,

but when the machine begins to compute numbers giving negative results, the lefthand black digit becomes 9, for reasons well known to those skilled in the art.

If from the" positive number 1,247,640, shown in Figure 5, the larger number 2,109,-

. 614 be subtracted, the result displayed at the sight-opening 14 should be the number 861,974, to be read in part from the lower row of red digits and in part from the upper row of digits which are normally concealed by the upper wing 16 of the shutter 17. The typist, instead of immediately reading the number just mentioned, sees that the lefthand black digit is a 9, and seizes the finger-piece 22, and moves the shutter to the left to cover the first significant digit in the row of black digits, in this case on the right-hand computing wheel, thus shutting off the last digit in the lower row of red digits, and exposing the last digit in the up er row of red digits. The typist now reads the red digits displayed, the last or right digit bein'g read from the to row. As is well known to those skilled in t e art, the last digit in the bottom row is erroneous. and the reading, which should be one greater, is shown in the upper row. It will be evident that for two successive negative results the reading positions will ordinarily differ, and, therefore, it is desirable to return the shutter to its normal right-hand position after reading each negative result. Such return movements will be effected by spring 18.

If from the negative number 861,974, shown in Figure 6, the number 4,836,026 be subtracted, the result shown should be the negative number 5,698,000. In order that this number may appear, the typist performs the same operation as described for Figure 6, namely, shifts the shutter 17 until the last significant digit, that is, to the right, of the black digits is covered by the shutter.

The shutter'thus positioned displays the red,

in the'proper position when moved'to the left. For this purpose, each of the number wheels 13 is provided with a notch 23between the black zero and the red '.9, 'so that when the wheel is in position to register the black zero, a downwardly-extending lug or projection 24 on the shutter may pass through the notch or recess 23. It will be seen then that when the shutter 17 is moved to the left by means of the finger-piece 22, the pro-- ject'ion 24' will pass through the notches of any number wheels set to shows black zeros, but will be checked by the first number wheelto the left showing some black digit other than zero, the lug 24 being so positioned that the black number normally exposed on the wheel engaged by the projection 24 will be covered, the other black digits in the row to the left of the one so covered remaining exposed.

In order that the lug 24 may enter the notches 23 when the latter are slightly out of alignment, the walls of the notches may be given an outward flare on the sides of the wheels 13 and the lug 24 may be rounded or beveled. It will be seen that by means of the notches or recesses 23 and projection 24, an extremely simple means is obtained for automatically stopping the shutter in pro er position.

sually, in finishing computing operations in the Underwood bookkeeping machines, the machine is set for subtractiondf a positive result is shown in the totalizer, and the result typed. The complement of the result is indexed during such typing, and; upon operation-of the general operator, the totalizer will be cleared, thus checking the correctness of the total typed. In case a negative total is shown in the totalizer, the shutter is moved leftward to reading position, and, if the negative number so read is typed and indexed with the machine set for addition, the subsequent operation of the general operator will clear the totalizer in case the total has been correctly typed. This typing may be done while the shutter is in readingposition, and, upon completion of the operation, the shutter, if released, will be restored to its normal position by the spring 18. In the adding operation the group of wheels showing positive 0s will not be shifted, and, therefore, will 'not obstruct the lug 24 when the shutter is released. It should-be noted that the size of the lug 24 is such that it may lie between successive wheels 13. As a result of this condition, no injury will be done to the machine in case the computing wheels 13 to the right of the lug 24 are actuated while the shutter 17" is positioned for the reading of a negative result.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used Without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1

1. In a computing machine, the combination with computing wheels having positive and negative digits thereon, each of said wheels having a notch extending 'across the periphery of the same, of a slidable shutter normally held in its limiting position to the right of the computing wheels, to enable a positive number to be read on said wheels, and a lug on said shutter adapted to pass through said notches when said wheels are positioned to show zeros of the positive number set, whereby the shutter will be stopped by engagement of said lug with the first computing wheel having a positive setting other than zero.

2. In an algebraic computing machine, in combination, computing wheels having positive and negative digits thereon, a shield provided with a sight-opening whereby a central row of positive digits and two rows of negative digits may be seen, a slidable shutter having a left-handopening adapted to show the central row of positive digits and the lower row of negative digits and a right-hand opening spaced to the right of the other opening a distance equal to that between two successive computing wheels and adapted to show the upper row of negative numbers, and means including co-operating parts on said shutter and said Wheels, whereby movement of said shutter to the left will be prevented after the last significant digit in the row of positive digits has been covered thereby.

'3. In an algebraic computing machine, in combination, computing wheels having positive and negative digits thereon, a shield having a sight-opening whereby a central row of positive digits and two rows of negative digits may be seen, positive results be ing read from the central row, and negative results, indicated by a 9 in the highest denomination of the middle row, being read partly from the bottom row and partly from the top row, a slidable member normally in its limiting position to the right of the computing wheels, and means whereby said member will be stopped, by the first numeral wheel having a significant digit shown in the middle row, in the proper position for reading the number from the two rows of negative digits.

4. In a computing machine, in combinative number below being one less than said.

complement, a shield having a sight-opening adapted to show a row of positive numbers and two rows of negative numbers, a slidable shutter having a left-hand opening adapted to expose the row of positive numbers and the lower row of negative numbers, said shutter having a right-hand opening spaced from said left-hand opening a distance equal to that between two adjacent computing wheels, and adapted to expose the upper row of negative numbers when said shutter is moved to the left, an upturned finger-piece at the right-hand end of the lefthand opening to engage the ends of the sight-opening to limit the movement of the shutter, and means to check the leftward movement of said shutter at the proper point to read a negative result. 4

5. In a computing machine, in combination, a set of computing wheels having positive and negative numbers thereon, the nega- -tivenumber above a positive number being the complement thereof, and the negative number below being one less than said complement, a device directing attention to a central row of positive numbers and a row of negative numbers on each side thereof, a slidable shutter adapted, to enable a positive result to be read from said central row when the shutter is in normal position and to enable, when said shutter is moved to a position to cover the last significant digit in the positive row, the first part of the neg ative result. indicated by the showing of a positive 9 on the computing wheel of highest denomination, to be read on the lower row of negative numbers, and the remaining part in the upper row of negative numbers, and means for stopping said shutter in proper position, comprising a member movable to the left past the computing wheels showing the positive 0, but adapt ed to be blocked by a computing wheel having another positive setting.

6. ln a computing machine, in combina tion, a set of computing wheels having positive and negative numbers thereon, the negative number above a positive number being the complement thereof, and the negative number below being one less than said complement, a device for directing attention to a central row of positive numbers and row of negative numbers on each side thereof, a slidable shutter adapted to enable a positive result to be read from said central row when the shutter is in normal position and to enable, when said shutter is moved to a position to cover the last significant digit in the positive row, the first part of the negaative result, indicated by the showing of a positive 9 on the computing wheel of highest denomination, to be read on the lower row of negative numbers, and the remaining part in the upper row of negative numbers, and means for stopping said shutter in proper position, comprising a slidably supported member adapted to pass to the left through correspondingly positioned notches extending across the peripheries of computing wheels set to show 0 in the positive number row,'and to be blocked by a computing wheel'having another setting.

7. In an algebraic computing machine, in combination, computing wheels having positive and negative digits suitably mounted thereon, a shutter adapted to facilitate the reading of a negative result, indicated by 9 in the highest denomination of the positive number reading, and means to stop said shutter in a position to enable a negative result to be correctly read, comprising a slidably mounted mem ber adapted to move to the left past the computing wheels showing a positivefO", and to be blocked by the first computing wheel having another setting, and connec: tions whereby movement of said shutter, through a given distance. will effect an equal movement of said slidably mounted member.

8. In an algebraic computing machine, in combination, computing wheels having positive and negative digits suitably arranged thereon, a shutter adapted to facilitate the reading of a negative result, indr cated by 9 in the highest denomination of the positive number reading, and means to stop said shutter in its leftward movement at the proper point to enablethe negative result to be read, comprising a stud moving with said shutter and adapted pass through correspondingly posi tioned notches in the peripheries of said computing wheels when the latter are set to indicate 0 in the positive number reading, and to be blocked by the first computing wheel showing a positive reading other than 0.

9. in an algebraic computing machine, in combination, computing wheels having positive and negative numbers thereon, a shutter adapted to facilitate the reading of a negative result, and means to stop the shutter in proper position to read a negative result, including a member movable parallel to the axis of said computin wheels, and notches in said computing wheels through which said member may pass.

10. In an algebraic computing machine, in combination, computing wheels having positive and negative numbers thereon, a shutter adapted to permit the reading oil a positive result when in its right-hand position, and to enable the reading of a negative result when moved to the left to a suitable extent, and automatic means for stopping the leftward movement of the shutter at the proper point.

11. En an algebraic computing machine,

. eries of said number wheels.

12. In an algebraic computing machine, in combination, number wheels havlng positive and negative digits thereon, and means to read negative results, comprising a shutter variably positioned in accordance with the negative results to be read, said number wheels and said shutter being of suitable configuration to stop further movement of;

said shutter when the latter has been moved to the proper position.

13. In an algebraic computing machine, in combination, computing wheels having positive and negative numbers thereon, and

a shutter adapted to permit the reading of a positive result when in its right-hand position, and to enable the reading of a negative result when moved to the left to a suitable extent, said number wheels and said shutter being of suitable configuration to stop the leftward movement of said shutter when the latter has been moved to the proper position.

14. In a computing machine, the comhination with computing wheels having digits for positive numbers and digits for negative numbers, of a transversely shiftable shutter adapted when in normal right,- hand position to direct attention to positive' digits, and means controllable by said wheels for variably arresting the shutter in its leftward movement, so as to direct attention to the correct negative digits when shifted to positions to read negative results.

15. In a computing machine, the combination with computing wheels having digits for positive numbers and digits for negative numbers, of a transversely shiftable shutter adapted when in normal righthand position to direct attention to positive digits, means controllable by said wheels for variably arresting the shutter in its leftward movement, so as to direct'attention to the correct negative digits when shifted to positions to read negative results,

and yielding means normally holding said shutter in its right-hand position and effective: to restore the latter thereto when released after use in reading a negative result.

16.111 a computing machine, the combination with computing wheels having positive and negative digits thereon, each of .said wheels having a notch extending across the periphery of the same, of a transversely slidable shutter adapted when in its limit ing position to the right of the computing wheels to enable a positive number to be read on said wheels, a lug on said shutter adapted to pass through said notches when said wheelsare positioned. to show zeros of the positive digit set, whereby the shutter will be stoipped by engagement of said lug with the rst computing wheel having a positive setting other than Zero, and means to restore said shutter to normal position when releaesd'after.movement to a position for reading a negative result.

17. In an algebraic computing machine, in combination, computing Twheels having positive and negative digits thereon, a shield provided with a sight-openingwhereby a set of positive digits and two sets of negative digits may be exposed, a transversely slidable shutter adapted when in its righthand position to direct attention to digits of the positive set to enable the reading of a positive result, and when moved to the left to. the proper position to direct attention to digits of both sets of negative digits to enable the reading ofa negative result, means normally urging said shutter to its. normal right-hand position, and means, including co-operating parts on saidi shutter and wheels, whereby movement of the shutter to the left will be prevented when the shutter has reached the proper reading position.

18. In an algebraic computing machine, in combination, computing wheels having positive and negative digits suitably arranged thereon, a shutter adapted to facilitate 'the reading of a negative result indicated by the figure 9 inthe highest denomination of the positive number reading,

means to stop said shutter in its leftward moving with said shutter and adapted to a.

pass through correspondingly positioned notches in the peripheries of said computing wheels, when the latter are .set to indicate 0 in the positive number reading, and to be blocked by the first computing wheels to show a positive reading-other than 03, and means to return the shutter to normal position when released.

19. In an algebraic computing machine, in combination, number-wheels having positive and negative digits thereon, means to read' negative results, comprising. a shutter variably positioned in accordance with the negative results to be read, said numberwheels and said shutter being of suitable configuration to prevent further movement of the shutter when the latter has been moved to the proper reading position, and means tending to return the shutter to its normal position. i

20. In an algebraic computing machine, the combination, with spaced computing wheels having positive and negative digits there0n, each of said wheels having a notch extendin across the periphery of the/same,

of a sh able shutter normally held in its limiting position to the right of the computing wheels, to enable a positive number to be read on said wheels, and a lug on said shutter adapted to pass through said notches when said Wheels are positioned to show zeros of the positive number set whereby the shutter will be stopped by engagement of said lug with the first computing Wheel having a positive setting other than zero, said lug being of such size that, when the shutter is in a negative reading position, it will lie between the wheel, by which it was stopped and the next wheel to the right.

21. A reading gage for use in an algebraic computing machine having positive and negative digits arranged in opposite directions peripherally of the computing wheels, to enable positive results to be read from a row of positive digits and a negative result to be read partly from a row of negative digits on one side of the positive row, and par by from a row of negative digits on the otl er side thereof, adaptedto overlie said rows and having a left-hand opening to expose the positive row, and the negative row having digits complementary, to the base nine, of the digits of the positive row, and a righthand opening to expose the other negative row, the digits in which are complementary, to the base ten, of the digits in the positive row, the distance between the two openings being the same as that between two adjacent computing wheels, whereby, when the negative result is indicated by on the wheel of highest denomination and in the positive row, the erroneous di its in the negative row, normally exposec, may be covered by moving the gage to the left, therebyexposing the corresponding correct negative digits in the other negative row.

22. A reading gage for use in analgebraic computing machine having positive and negative digits arranged thereon to enable a positive result to be read from a row of positive digits and a negative result to be read partly from a row of negative digits on one side of the row of positive digits, and partly from a row of negative digits on the opposite side of the positive row, said gage being so shaped that, when in its normal position, it will direct attention to the positive digits giving the correct reading of a positive result, and, in case a negative result is indicated by.the ositive 9 on the wheel of highest denomlnation, the gage, when moved to the proper position, will direct .attention to negative digits in one row, and other negative digits in the other row giving the correct negative result, the shape of the gage also being such that the positive digits on the computing wheel of highest denomination will always be exposed irrespective of the position of the gage.

LOUIS E. GILES.

Witnesses EDITH B. LIBBEY, JENNIE P. THORNE. 

